Non-run hosiery and method of forming same



1965 e. R. MARLETTE ETAL 3,212,298

NON-RUN HOSIERY AND METHOD OF FORMING SAME Filed May 7, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 GOLEY E. MAELETTE- and W1 LLJAM bEWwT WIMP-REE,

INVENTORS 1965 G. R. MARLETTE ETAL 3,212,298

NON-RUN HOSIERY AND METHOD OF FORMING SAME 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 7, 1962 GOLEY R. MAELETTE anal WILLIAM DEWFFT \MNF-EEE, INVENTORS BY1MSLASM+M ATTORNEYS O 1955 G. R. MARLETTE ETAL 3,212,298

NON-RUN HOSIERY AND METHOD OF FORMING SAME 3 Sheets-Sheet .5

Filed May 7, 1962 5 swsmsmsmsms M o lsswfi vw MsMsMsMsM 8 GOLEY 12. MARLETTE and l W\LL\AM DEV/WT WNFREE,

INVENTORS BY tflgkfllfiqxw ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,212,298 NON-RUN HOSIERY AND METHOD 0F 1 G SAME Goley R. Mariette, High Point, and William Dewitt Winfree, Kernersville, N.C., assignors, by mesne assignments, to Vac Hosiery Corporation, Charlotte, N.C., a

corporation of North Carolina Filed May 7, 1962, Ser. No. 192,925 8 Claims. (Cl. 66178) This invention relates generally to non-run hosiery and more particularly to sheer ladies non-run seamless hosiery of the type which is normally knit of monofilament heat-settable yarns, such as nylon, and to the method of forming the seamless portions of the leg and foot of this type of hosiery by utilizing a special stitch arrangement which prevents runs in both upward and downward directions when the hose is ruptured or the yarn broken while maintaining the appearance of plain knit sheer hosiery.

Many prior attempts have been made to produce sheer ladies non-run seamless hosiery but none of these prior attempts have been completely successful because they have not been able to maintain the appearance of plain sheer hosiery while preventing runs in both upward and downward directions.

It is well known to knit hosiery while forming a predetermined pattern arrangement of tuck stitches, such as the arrangement shown in the Page Patent No. 2,501,353. It is also well known to knit hosiery while forming a predetermined pattern arrangement of draw or held stitches having a yarn floated therebehind, such as the arrangement shown in the Lochhead Patent No. 2,060,- 882. While the above fabrics have the general appearance of a plain knit fabric and the tuck and draw stitches in the fabrics of these patents provide some resistance to downward runs, they are not effective to stop runs in an upward direction and, therefore they do not completely solve the problem of runs in sheer ladies seamless hosiery.

Attempts have also been made to stop hosiery runs in an upward as well as a downward direction by what is basically a combinaiton of the tuck and draw stitch principle of the patents heretofore mentioned. Two yarns are selectively fed to the needles to form combination tuck and float stitches in each wale with plain stitches positioned between the combination tuck and float stitches in both walewise and coursewise directions. This type of run-resisting tuck and float stitch is shown in the Lochhead Patent No. 2,100,861; the Bellman Patent No. 2,- 887,860; and the Matthews et al. Patent No. 3,027,737. While these fabrics act to resist or stop runs in both directions, the presence of the repeated tuck stitches in combination with the plain stitches produces a fabric having an open mesh, net or lace-like appearance which is easily distinguished from a plain knit fabric and is therefore not acceptable by many women.

With the foregoing iii mind, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide sheer ladies non-run seamless hosiery which has the appearance of a plain knit hosiery and yet will not run in either direction when ruptured.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel method of knitting a non-run stocking of the type described which may be practiced on conventional and readily available circular knitting machines with very little modification being required.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide sheer hosiery of the type described in which the seamless portions of the leg and foot are formed entirely of tuck stitches with floats therebehind and in 3,212,298 Patented Get. 19, 1965 which there are no plain stitches separating the tuck stitches in either walewise or coursewise directions. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, each course is formed of a pair of yarns which are selectively fed to the needles and the selection is reversed after the knitting of each course. Both yarns are preferably monoiilament heat-settable synthetic yarns, such as nylon, on the order of 7 or 10 denier. During the knitting of a given course, both yarns are fed to and form held loops on alternating single needles while one yarn tucks and the other yarn floats at the intervening needles and then in the next successive course, the feeding of the two yarns is reversed and both yarns form held loops on the intervening needles while one yarn tucks and the other yarn floats at the alternate needles.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of a non-run hose made in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary developed view of the needle and jack cams and illustrating the path of travel of the needles and jacks as they approach the knitting station, pick up the yarns and pass through the stitch cams;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the yarn feeding station, illustrating the manner in which the yarns are fed to the needles from the yarn feeding fingers;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary plan view of FIGURE 3, further illustrating the manner in which the yarns are fed to the needles;

FIGURE 5 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary view of that portion of the hose enclosed by the dash-dot rectangle indicated at 5 in FIGURE 1, the fabric being shown in partially stretched condition and showing the position of the two yarns in each course;

FIGURE 6 is a view similar to FIGURE 5 but showing the fabric as it would appear if the main yarn was drawn tight to remove the excess length of the main yarn from the fabric, it being understood that the actual fabric will not have this appearance;

FIGURE 7 is a view similar to FIGURE 5 but showing a section of the knit fabric which contains both the regular tuck stitches and modified tuck stitches; and

FIGURE 8 is a view similar to FIGURE 7 but showing the fabric as it would appear if the main yarn was drawn tight to remove the excess length of the main yarn from the fabric, it being understood that the actual fabric will not have this appearance.

It is preferred that the non-run seamless hose of the present invention (FIGURE 1) be provided with the usual turned welt 10, a shadow welt 11, a leg portion 12, and a foot which includes a heel pocket 13, an instep 14, and a toe pocket 15. It is also preferred that the turned welt 10 and shadow welt 11 be knit in the usual manner of plain stitches and that the knitting of the nonrun fabric begin at the top of the leg portion 12. In the hose shown in FIGURE 1, the non-run fabric eX- tends to the toe pocket 15 and leg 12, heel 13 and instep 14 are knit with rotary motion of the needle cylinder, the heel pocket 13 being formed during the boarding operation. However, it is to be understood that the hose could be provided with a conventional reciprocatorily knit heel pocket, if desired.

Referring to FIGURES 5 and 6, that portion of the non-run fabric shown includes needle wales W-1 through W5, each of which includes regularly recurring tuck stitches broadly indicated at T. It will be noted that the successive tuck stitches T in each wale are directly connected together and there are no plain stitches positioned between the tuck stitches. Each of the tuck stitches T has a single yarn float F extending therebehind. Each course of the fabric is formed of a main yarn indicated at M and a secondary yarn indicated at S. In FIG- URES 5 and 6, the main yarn M and the secondary yarn S are provided with numerical sufiixes which correspond to the courses in which these yarns are knit.

Each of the tuck stitches T includes a double yarn held loop 20 and a single yarn tuck loop 21, which are more clearly illustrated in FIGURE 6. Each of the double yarn held loops 20 are formed of both yarns M and S while the tuck loops 21 are formed of the yarn M and the floats F are formed of the yarn S. Thus, the nonrun fabric shown in FIGURES 5 and 6 consists entirely of tuck stitches T with floats F therebehind and the fabric does not include any plain stitches. The tuck stitches T of any given wale of the fabric are offset or staggered relative to the tuck stitches T in adjacent Wales on opposite sides thereof.

While all of the factors which contribute to the runpreventing characteristics of the fabric are not fully understood, it is believed that one of the main contributing factors is the complete absence of any plain stitches in the fabric. Another feature which is believed to help prevent runs is the excess length of the main yarn M in the fabric and the manner in which this excess main yarn forms random loops in the sinker wales. This excess length of main yarn M is best shown in FIGURE 5.

Measured lengths of the yarns M annd S have been knit to form a non-run fabric in accordance with the present invention and it has been found that approximately twice as much of the yarn M is required as the yarn S. The extra length of yarn M is mainly disposed in the sinker wales, between adjacent needle wales, in a looped and curled manner so that when. the hose is subjected to the usual boarding operation these yarns are permanently heat-set in this condition. Then, when the fabric is ruptured, breaking either one or both of the yarns M and S, the heat-set loops of yarn in the sinker wales becomes entangled to prevent running of the loops in both upward and downward directions. Although a hole is formed in the fabric when the yarns are broken, an objectionable run does not extend therefrom.

Another feature contributing to the non-run characteristics of the fabric is believed to reside in the fact that the tuck stitches T are not formed in every wale of the fabric during the knitting of each course but, on the other hand, tuck stitches are formed only in alternating single wales in a given course and, then in the next succeeding course, tuck stitches are formed only in intervening single wales. Also, floats extend behind each tuck stitch so that if a yarn is broken in a given Wale, the tuck stitches above and below the broken yarn cannot be easily pulled through the succeeding tuck stitches without becoming entangled with the floats.

Seamless non-run hosiery has been knit in accordance with the present invention by using various deniers of yarn. For example, some hose have been knit using one 7 denier monofilament nylon yarn and one 10 denier monofilament nylon yarn. The preferred hose has been knit by using two 7 denier monofilament nylon yarns, however, the present non-run hosiery may be knit by using other deniers of synthetic heat-settable monofilament or multifilament yarns.

It is preferred that the stocking of the present invention be knit on a 400 needle circular knitting machine of the type which is manufactured by Scott & Williams, Inc. and known as their. Model KN. This type of machine is conventionally equipped with a needle selecting mechanism which may be easily adapted to use in the knitting of non-run hosiery in accordance with the present application. In order to knit the present non-run hosiery on this type of machine, it is only necessary to modify the operation of the needle selecting mechanism to reverse the needle selection following each rotation of the needle cylinder.

Portions of the knitting machine on which the present non-run stocking is preferably knit are shown in FIG- URES 2, 3 and 4 to illustrate the manner in which the needles N are controlled to selectively take the yarns at the yarn feeding station, broadly indicated at 24. Referring to FIGURE 2, it will be noted that the machine is provided with a cam ring 25 which surrounds the needle cylinder and is supported on the usual bed plate, not shown. The cam ring 25 is usually divided into sections which include a right-hand end cam 26 and a lefthand end cam 27. The usual stitch cams are provided at the knitting station and these include an upper center cam 30, a lower center cam 31, a right-hand stitch cam 32 and a left-hannd stitch cam 33.

The yarn feeding station 24 includes a yarn feeding throat opening in the latch ring 35 which is provided with yarn feeding fingers 36 and 37 which are movable into and out of yarn feeding position in a conventional manner. Other fingers, not shown, are also provided to feed other yarns to the needles during the knitting of certain portions of the hose. The yarn feeding finger '36 is positioned to feed the main or backing yarn M at a low position adjacent the upper surface of the yarn feeding throat opening and to all of the needles N. The yarn feeding finger 37 is of the type which is usually referred to as a spiral feeding finger and in the present instance it feeds the secondary or facing yarn S to the needles which pass the yarn feeding station 24 at a higher elevation, in a manner to be later described.

To aid in floating the yarn S, the needles N are preferably of the type which have forwardly inclined hooks and they are supported for vertical independent movement in the conventional slots of the needle cylinder, not shown. An auxiliary jack J (FIGURE 2) is positioned beneath each of the needles N and a pattern jack P is positioned beneath each of the auxiliary jacks J. The machine is also provided with a bank of selector levers 40 (FIGURE 2) which are operated in a conventional manner from a pattern drum, not shown, to position the pattern jacks P to either engage and ride up or miss a pattern jack elevating cam 41.

In the present instance, the operation of the selector levers 40 is reversed with each rotation of the needle cylinder. During one revolution of the needle cylinder, alternate single pattern jacks indicated at P-l engage and are raised by the jack raising cam 41 to thereby raise their corresponding auxiliary jacks and needles, indicated at I-1 and N1 in FIGURE 2. During this same rotation, the intervening single pattern jacks, indicated at P-Z, are not raised by the jack raising cam 41 and their corresponding auxiliary jacks and needles 1-2 and N2 remain at a lower elevation and the needles N-2 are raised by the end cam 26.

Thus, the needles N are divided into two groups, the group designated at N-l being raised to shed level which is a higher elevation than the tuck level or lower level to which the group N-2 is raised. The path of travel of the hooks of the needles in group N-1 is indicated by the dotted line 44 while the path of travel of the hooks of the needles in group N-2 is indicated by the dotted line 45 (FIGURES 2 and 3). The right-hand stitch cam 32 is moved rearwardly to inoperative position so that the butts of the needles do not engage it as they advance to the yarn feeding station 24.

As is most clearly shown in FIGURE 3, the needles N-l, which pass the yarn feeding station 24 at the higher or shed level, first pick up the yarn S and then pick up the yarn M. On the other hand, the needles N-2, which pass the yarn feeding station 24 at the lower or tuck level, pick up only the yarn M and the yarn S is positioned on the inside of the needles N-2 to form floats. All of the needles N then pass beneath the left-hand stitch cam 33 and are lowered to stitch drawing level during this rotation of the needle cylinder, but since only the needles Nl have been raised to shed level before they picked up both yarns M and S, held stitch loops of both yarns are formed as they are lowered. Since the needles N2 have not been raised to shed level before picking up only the main yarn M, tuck loops of the yarn M are formed when these needles are lowered while the yarn S forms floats.

Thus, the yarn M is picked up in the hook of every needle and the yarn S is picked up in the hooks of every other needle and then all needles are lowered by the lefthand stitch cam 33 so that about twice the length of yarn M is drawn through the finger 36 as the length of yarn S that is drawn through the finger 37. This excess length of yarn M in the knit fabric forms the random loops, which appear to lie mainly in the sinker wales. It is believed that the fact that the present fabric has no clearing course (that is, courses in which every needle takes and knits both yarns), and the restraining effect of the regular pattern of floats and held loops formed by the secondary yarn aid in causing the excess length of the yarn M to remain in the fabric, in the form of the random loops. One skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the amount of looseness or length of the main yarn may be varied by variations in the knitting instrumentalities and techniques such as the type of needle, the type of sinker, length of stitch draw, yarn tension, yarn feed, etc.

During the next single rotation of the needle cylinder, the action of selector levers 40 is reversed so that the needles Nl, which followed the higher path 44 in the preceding revolution, now follow the lower path 45 while the needles N2, which previously followed the lower path 45, now follow the higher path 44. Thus, during this second rotation, the needles Nl and N2 reverse the positions that they had in the previous rotation and now the needles Nl form tuck loops of the yarn M while the yarn S floats and the needles N2 form held stitch loops of both yarns M and S. Then, during the next or third rotation, the selector levers 40 again reverse positions to select the needles again in an identical manner to that described for the first rotation so that the needles Nl again follow the higher path 44 while the needles N2 follow the lower path. This reversing of the needle selection continues to take place with the knitting of each course of the non-run fabric.

In the non-run fabric shown in FIGURES 5 and 6, a course is knit with each rotation of the needle cylinder and tuck stitches are formed in alternating single wales of alternate single courses and tuck stitches are formed in intervening single wales of intervening single courses. For example, in the course formed of the yarns M-1 and 8-1 double yarn held loops are formed of both yarns in alternating single wales, the wales W-l, W-3 and W-5 of FIGURE 6, while tuck loops 21 of the yarn M1 and floats F of the yarn 8-1 are formed in intervening single wales, the wales W-2 and W4 of FIGURE 6. During the next rotation of the needle cylinder the course of the yarns S2 and M-2 is formed and double yarn held loops 20 are formed in intervening single wales, the wales W-2 and W4 of FIGURE 6, while tuck loops 21 of the yarn M2 and floats F of the yarn S2 are formed in alternating single wales, W-l, W-3 and W-5 of FIGURE 6. Then, the course formed of the yarns S3 and M3 is formed in an identical manner to the first course which was formed of the yarns M-1 and S-1. The next suceeding course formed of the yarns S4 and M4 is formed in an identical manner to the second course which was formed of the yarns S2 and M-2. Since the needle selection is reversed at the end of each course or during each rotation of the needle cylinder, this pattern may be termed a oneby-one coursewise pattern.

While the non-run hoisery of the present invention is formed essentially of tuck stitches and is characterized by the absence of any double yarn plain stitches, it has the appearance of plain knit sheer hoisery and it is only through the use of some device for enlarging the stitch structure, such as a microscope, that the fabric can be identified as other than plain knit fabric. Even when the stitches are greatly enlarged it is almost impossible to follow each yarn in the fabric as is evident in the hose specimen and photograph exhibits filed herewith. Although the yarns are fed to the needles and the needlesare controlled in such a manner that the machine should produce a fabric having the appearance of the fabric shown in FIG- URE 5, a careful microscopic study of the fabric reveals that at times, the loose yarn M in the double yarn held stitch loop 20 does not follow the same path as the yarn S.

In some cases both yarns M and S of a held loop 20 are not connected to the legs of both yarns of the next succeeding held loop but, the loose yarn M of a held loop is interknit with the yarn M which normally forms the tuck loop 21. While it is not completely understood why this phenomenon occurs, it is believed that it is caused by the springy nature of the monofilament nylon yarn and the fact that twice as much yarn M is utilized in the fabric as the yarn S and this might occasionally allow the loose yarn M of the held loops 20 to move below the latch to shed position while the tight yarn S is maintained above the latch. A microscopic examination of the stitch loop structure of a hose, made in accordance with the method heretofore described, reveals that while this phenomenon occurs, it cannot be determined when it will occur since it does not occur in a regular manner so as to form a pattern.

Referring to FIGURES 7 and 8, there is shown some of the fabric in which this phenomenon occurs. As shown, the major portion of the fabric is formed of tuck stitches T which are identical to the tuck stitches T shown in FIGURES 5 and 6. Like the tuck stitches T, each tuck stitch T includes a double yarn held loop 20' and a single yarn tuck loop 21' and a float F extends therebehind. Modified tuck stitches, broadly indicated at X, are shown in Wales W1', W-3', and W-S' of the fabric of FIGURES 7 and 8. It will be noted that the upper modified tuck stitch X in Wale W-3' includes a single yarn held loop 22 formed of yarn S2 and a pair of interknit plain loops 23 and 230 each formed of a single yarn. The plain loop 23 is formed of the yarn M-2 and then the plain loop 23a is formed of the yarn M3 and interknit with the plain loop 23.

As explained above, the yarn M3' would normally form a tuck loop at the modified tuck stitch X, however, in this instance it forms the plain loop 23a because the loose yarn M-2 is not held in the hook of the needle with the yarn S2 as the yarn M-3' is lowered by the needle. Thus, when the needle receives the yarn M-3' in its hook and is lowered to stitch drawing level, the loose yarn M-2' (which is no longer in the hook of the needle with the held yarn S2) is shed from the needle to form the plain loop 23. Then when this needle is lowered in the next rotation, the yarns M-3' and S2 are shed toggther to cast off both the held loop 22 and the plain loop The number of tuck stitches T, relative to the number of modified tuck stitch-es X, varies in different portions of the hose and it has been found to be generally true that there are a greater number of tuck stitches T in the lower portion of a seamless hose while there are a greater number of modified tuck stitches X in the upper portion of the hose. It is presently believed that the gradual decrease in stitch length has some effect upon the occurrence of this phenomenon. The term modified tuck stitch, as used in the specification and claims, is understood to mean the type of stitch just described, and shown at X in FIGURES 7 and 8.

It has been found that a greater number of courses must be knit in the leg of the hose of the present invention, as compared to the number of courses which are normally knit in the leg of a regular hose. For example, in a conventional size 10 micro-mesh hose 1,236 courses are formed in the leg while in a size 10 non-run hose made in accordance'with the present invention there are 1,416 courses formed in the leg.

' Although the knitting of the fabric of the present invention is described as being performed on a circular knitting machine equipped with 400 needles, it is to be understood that the present stocking may be knit on a machine having a greater or lesser number of needles and there may be an even or odd number of needles utilized. Also, while the machine described has only a single yarn feeding and knitting station, it is to be understood that the hose of the present invention could also be knit on a multiple feed knitting machine with needle selecting means in advance of each of the knitting stations for selecting or dividing the needles into two groups to take and knit the pair of yarns fed at each. knitting station.

In the drawings and specification, there have been set forth preferred embodiments of the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.

We claim:

1. A method of forming the leg portion of a seamless non-run knitted ladies sheer hose having the appearance of a plain knit fabric, the leg portion of the hose including a plurality of complete successive courses with two synthetic heat-settable yarns knit in each course, said method comprising the steps of (1) knitting a complete course while holding loops of both yarns in alternate single wales, forming tuck loops of one of the yarns in intervening single wales, and forming floats of the other of the yarns in the intervening single wales,

(2) knitting the next succeeding complete course while holding loops of both yarns in the intervening single wales, forming tuck loops of one of the previously held yarns in the alternate single Wales, and forming floats of the other of the previously held yarns in the alternate single wales,

(3) periodically and at random intervals releasing one of the previously held loops and interknitting it with the tuck loop in the same Wale and during the formation of the succeeding course, and

(4) repeating the above steps throughout the leg portion of the hose.

2. Circular knit hosiery with the leg portion thereof having a plain knit sheer appearance and comprising tuck stitches with single yarn floats therebehind and modified tuck stitches with single yarn floats therebehind, and characterized by the absence of any plain stitches between the tuck stitches and the modified tuck stitches, said tuck stitches each consisting of a held loop formed of a pair of yarns and a tuck loop formed of a single yarn, and said modified tuck stitches each consisting of a held loop formed of only one of said pair of yarns and a pair of single yarn plain loops interknit with each other.

3. A seamless non-run ladies sheer hose according to claim 2 wherein the leg portion is knitted of synthetic monofilament heat-settable yarn within the range of about 7 to 10 denier, and said knitted leg portion consists of tuck stitches and modified tuck stitches with floats therebehind.

4. A non-run hose according to claim 2 wherein the leg portion is knit of synthetic heat-settable yarn to form successive courses and wales, each Wale of said leg portion consisting of tuck stitches and randomly occurring modified tuck stitches with a float behind each stitch.

5. A seamless knitted ladies sheer hose having the appearance of a plain knit fabric, and at least the body portion being non-run and comprising (1) successive courses having wales of knitted stitches formed of two synthetic heat-settable yarns,

(2) each Wale of said successive courses consisting of successively connected held loops with floats therebehind,

(3) certain of said held loops being formed of both of said yarns,

(4) the remaining held loops being formed of only one of said yarns,

(5) a single yarn tuck loop with each of said certain held loops, said single yarn tuck loop extending to the held loops in adjacent wales, and

(6) a pair of single yarn plain loops with each of said remaining held loops, and one of said plain loops extending to the held loops in adjacent wales, and said hose being characterized by the absence of any plain stitches between the held loops.

6. A seamless knitted ladies sheer hose having the appearance of a plain knit fabric, and at least the body portion being non-run and comprising (1) successive courses having wales of knitted stitches formed of two synthetic heat-settable monofilament yarns,

(2) each course consisting of held loops positioned in every other Wale,

(3) certain of said held loops being formed of both of said yarns,

(4) the remaining held loops being formed of only one of said yarns,

(5) tuck loops positioned with said certain held loops,

(6) plain loops positioned with said remaining held loops,

(7) floats positioned behind said certain and said remaining held loops, and

(8) the held loops of one course being staggered walewise in relation to the held loops of the next succeeding courses, and said hose being characterized by the absence of any plain stitches between the held loops.

7. A seamless knttied ladies non-run hosiery fabric having the appearance of a plain, non-mesh, knit fabric, said non-run fabric characterized by the absence of any plain stitches and consisting of (1) successive courses having wales of knitted stitches and each course being formed of at least one main yarn and at least one secondary yarn,

(2) each alternate single course consisting essentially of held loops positioned in alternate single Wales and being formed of both of said yarns, tuck loops positioned in intervening single wales and being formed of said main yarn, and floats positioned in said intervening single wales and being formed of said secondary yarn,

(3) each intervening single course consisting essentially of held loop positioned in said intervening single wales and being formed of both of said yarns, tuck loops positioned in said alternate single wales and being formed of said main yarn, and floats positioned in said alternate single wales and being formed of said secondary yarn, and

(4) the floats and loops of the secondary yarn forming a regular repeat pattern, and the main yarn being looser than the secondary yarn and of substantially greater length than the secondary yarn and greater than the length required for the tuck and held loops of the main yarn, the excess length and looseness of the main yarn forming loose randomly disposed loops intertwined and dispersed between the loops of the secondary yarn.

8. Circular knit hosiery with the leg portion thereof being non-run and having a plain knit, non-mesh, appearance and formed from at least one main yarn and one secondary yarn, nad comprising tuck stitches with single floats therebehind and modified tuck stitches with single floats therebehind, and characterized by the absence of any plain stitches between the tuck stitches and the modified tuck stitches, said tuck stitches each consisting of a held loop formed of both of said yarns and a tuck loop formed of said main yarn, and said modified tuck stitches each consisting of a held loop formed of said secondary yarn and a pair of plain loops formed of said main yarn and interknit with each other, the main yarn being of a substantially greater length than the secondary yarn, the excess length of said main yarn forming loose, randomly disposed, loops intertwined and dispersed between the loops of the secondary yarn.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 7/45 Nebel 66-169 4/53 Tait 66-178 5/59 Bellman 66-198 X 11/61 Morgan 66-177 4/62 Matthews et a1 66-198 X FOREIGN PATENTS 3/35 France.

11/ 54 France.

2/ 32 Great Britain. 3 32 Great Britain.

DONALD W. PARKER, Primary Examiner.

MERVIN STEIN, RUSSELL C. MADER, Examiners. 

2. CIRCULAR KNIT HOISERY WITH THE LEG PORTION THEREOF HAVING A PLAIN KNIT SHEER APPEARANCE AND COMPRISING TUCK STITCHES WITH SINGLE YARN FLOATS THEREBEHIND AND MODIFIED TUCK STITCHES WITH SINGLE YARN FLOATS THEREBEHIND, AND CHARACTERIZED BY THE ABSENCE OF ANY PLAIN STITCHES BETWEEN THE TUCK STITCHES AND THE MODIFIED TUCK STITCHES, SAID TUCK STITCHES EACH CONSISTING OF HELD LOOP FORMED OF A PAIR OF YARNS AND A TUCK LOOP FORMED OF A SINGLE YARN, AND SAID MODIFIED TUCK STITCHES EACH CONSISTING OF A HELD LOOP FORMED OF ONLY ONE OF SAID PAIR OF YARNS AND A PAIR OF SINGLE YARN PLAIN LOOPS INTERKNIT WITH EACH OTHER. 